Lobbying firm fined for violating ethics

Published 8:58 pm, Thursday, September 12, 2013

ALBANY — A prominent lobbying firm has agreed to pay a $20,000 fine to the Joint Commission on Public Ethics for "incomplete and inaccurate filings" in 2011 and 2012.

Mercury Public Affairs represented the now-inactive Committee to Save New York, which raised $17 million from undisclosed donors to help Gov. Andrew Cuomo pass some of his landmark initiatives, including same-sex marriage and a property tax cap.

The organization decided to dissolve earlier this year after a long period of dormancy.

Mercury's clients have included AT&T; gambling interests such as Empire Resorts; liquor store operators who fended off attempts to allow wine in grocery stores; and firefighter and police unions.

The fine is the largest on record for that type of violation, said JCOPE officials.

Mercury officials said the errors were traced to an employee who left in July 2012.